INDIAN ROCKS BEACH S CHRISTMAS PAST

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1 NOVEMBER / 2009 ISSUE 22 Photos courtesy of Indian Rocks Beach Historica Museum Resident Bob Zubrod payed Santa Caus at oca Indian Rocks Beach hoiday ceebrations for over 50 years, retiring in Story By: Bi Brandon, son of Raymond Brandon, owner of Brandon s Paviion. For over fifty years, Bob Zubrod was the perennia Indian Rocks Beach Santa Caus. He said he got started back in 1936, when Sam Fitro, a future IRB resident, and his mother and father were staying at the Indian Rocks Inn during the Christmas hoidays. The famiy was visiting from Ohio, and Sam who was about eight at the time, wondered whether Santa woud be abe to find him way down south in IRB. Bob interceded, and Santa, showed that night in our sma viage. Bob, was a fied representative for the American Red Cross and their renowned water safety expert. He authored many of their manuas on ife saving and canoe handing, and traveed extensivey. Despite his hectic schedue, he earned to become an accompished amateur magician. He aways incuded magic tricks into his Christmas Santa Caus act. Both chidren and aduts oved him. During a memorabe Christmas, one of Bob's magic tricks went awry and he neary burned down the paviion. This was when segregation sti prevaied in the South. The community hed a Christmas ceebration for white chidren on the paviion grounds one evening. The next evening, they had one for the back famiies. This particuar year, there was a rainstorm on the night of the PRESORTED STD U S POSTAGE P A I D Permit No St Petersburg, FL INDIAN ROCKS BEACH S CHRISTMAS PAST back chidren s ceebration. My dad had them move the festivities into the paviion. That is when one of Bob's tricks, invoving fire, got out of hand. Ony quick action with a fire extinguisher prevented a catastrophe. Bob was a great athete. He was on the Iinois Athetic Association swim team with Johnny Weissmüer, who ater payed the movie roe of Tarzan. Zubrod once hed the word record for the 100-meter breast stroke. A remarkabe diver, even in midde age, he coud sti do gainers, twists, and a manner of diving acrobatics. He was a ten-second man in the 100-yard dash, confirmed by a certificate from the AAU. In 1928, Zubrod, at 140 pounds, payed varsity end on the ast footba team for the University of Chicago. The team was coached by egendary od-time footba mentor Amos Aonzo Stagg. Bob married Dorothy Dot Kahre, granddaughter of James and Mary Staney who owned the Indian Rocks Inn. After they married, he became the manager of the Inn. They had four daughters: Dorothy "Bubbes," Georgia, Bette, and Judy. Bob aways oved kids. I' aways have a warm spot in my heart for him, remembering the times he used to toss the footba around the paviion parking ot with me. He was in his forties, and I was a teenager, but he coud sti outrun me. When swim fins became the newest aquatic rage, he gave me a pair. He was aways upbeat and encouraging. How coud you not ove a guy ike that? Bob passed away in Apri 2002 Pictures from Indian Rocks As It Was,: A Pictoria History avaiabe at the Historica Museum, 203 4th Ave, $20.

2 CREDITS This newsetter is pubished by GRIFFIN PRODUCTIONS, Inc. and is maied to every occupied residence and business in Indian Rocks Beach We are not officiay associated with the City of Indian Rocks Beach. PUBLISHER Bob & Becky Griffin Residents of Indian Rocks Beach ART DIRECTION Becky Griffin SALES CONTACT INFO P.O. BOX 1314 Indian Rocks Beach, FL ~ FAX IRBNewsetter.com Is there something you woud ike to see incuded in this newsetter? Pease send a comments to bob@griffindirectories.com 2009 Griffin Productions, Inc. NEXT ISSUE IS JANUARY Do you need another copy of this newsetter? Ask for them at USA Grocers or any IRB reator's office. This newsetter is printed every other month and survives on oca advertising. Pease support the peope advertising here. If you are an IRB resident wanting to advertise, you get a discount. We aso offer discounts for advertising in our other issues, Madeira Beach, Beeair Area and Downtown St. Petersburg. Ca me to advertise in the next issue. For more information, or to read our other issues onine, visit BeachNewsetters.com CITY NUMBERS CITY HALL Bay Pam Bvd CITY MANAGER - Chuck Coward MAYOR/CITY COMMISSION MAYOR - R.B. Johnson COMMISSIONERS Cookie Kennedy Vice Mayor Danie Torres Terry Woin Phi Hanna City Manager, Chuck Coward Buiding Department: Position Open Panning & Zoning: Danny Tayor, Dir Pubic Services: Dean Scharmen, Dir. IRB LIBRARY Next to City Ha M-F 10-5pm, Tu-Th 7-8:30pm, Sat 10-1pm IRB HISTORICAL MUSEUM Across from the Post Office IRB HOMEOWNER ASSOC Phi Wrobe, President - IRBHome.com Bob Griffin - Boat Cub BEACH ART CENTER Next to City Ha, 1515 Bay Pam Bvd POST OFFICE / IRB th Avenue 33785, Near Crabby Bi s Mon-Fri 8:30A-4:30P; Sat 9A-12:00P IRB ROTARY Meets at Jimmy Guana's every Wed. 7:15AM Bruce Sobut, Past President ACTION 2000 John Todia Meets 2nd Monday Each Month Beach Art Ctr BEACH FOOD PANTRY First St. M-W-F 10 am-12 pm 4H CLUB NOVEMBER Property Tax Bis Maied 1 Loggerhead Turte Season Ends 1 Dayight Savings Time Ends 1 Taste of IRB 7 Veterans Boat Parade (Mad. Beach) 7 Market in the Park opens 7 Action 2000 Monthy Meeting 9 Veteran s Day (Wednesday) 11 Homeowners Happy Hour JDs 12 Iron Man / Cearwater Beach 14 IRB Community Cean Up Homeowners Quartery Meeting 18 Boat Cub Meeting Jimmy Guanas19 Bood Drive at the IRB Post Office 20 Pubic Schoos Hoidays Thanksgiving 26 Heritage Viage Decorated 27 Trees & Traditions Opens 27 IRB Garage Sae Sat / Sun 28 Beach Art Center Hoiday Show 30 Hurricane Season Ends 30 EMERGENCIES: SHERIFF NON-EMERGENCIES SHERIFF DISPATCH IRB FIRE STATION PINELLAS COUNTY INFO LITTLE LEAGUE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Guf Beaches Cearwater Beach AA & AL-ANON MEETINGS ELECTRICITY PHONE (Residentia) PHONE (Business) WATER CABLE (Bright House) SEWER / IRB TRASH / IRB / Pick Up COUNTY INFORMATION COMMISSION OFFICES Karen See STATE: Senator Dennis Jones Repubican, District Seminoe Bvd, Seminoe Jones.Dennis.web@fsenate.gov Representative Jim Frishe Repubican, District Indian Rocks Rd, Beeair Buffs Jim.Frishe@MyForidaHouse.gov Governor Charie Crist Charie.Crist@myforida.com FLORIDA UNITED STATES SENATORS: George Lemieux Bi Neson AREA UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE: Rep Bi Young th St, Seminoe, FL CALENDAR OF LOCAL EVENTS DECEMBER IRB Christmas Tree Lighting 4 Post Office Toys for Tots Pick Up 5 Open House Heritage Viage 5 IRB Street Christmas Parade 6 Rotary Super Bow Drawing 6 Homeowner s Toy Drive 10 Hanukkah Begins 11 Boat Cub Meeting Jimmy Guanas17 IRB Lighted Boat Parade 19 Pubic Schoo Hoidays Begin 21 Dog Park Permits Expire 31 IRB Skate Park Permits Expire 31 Beach Parking Permits 31 JANUARY Pubic Schoo Starts 4 IRB Candidate Quaifying 4-8 Litte League Tryouts Begin 9 Beach Art Center Show 11 Homeowner s Happy Hour 14 Martin Luther King Day 18 Boat Cub Meeting Jimmy Guanas 21

3 AS I REMEMBER IT Bob Zubrod was the area Santa Caus for fifty years. He ived at 18 Guf Bvd, in Indian Rocks Beach. It is sti owned by his famiy. Bob passed away in Apri Bubbes Zubrod Landers, Daughter of Bob Zubrod "My dad iked to do magic tricks. He practiced them around the house. Whenever he payed Santa, he woud aways incude magic. When I was about 10 or 12 years od, I was his assistant. He had a bag he'd put an egg in, and a chicken woud appear. He did things with brighty coored scarves, and he'd make a newspaper burn up and then reappear. "Every year he woud cross the bridge to the mainand, and bring back a freshy cut Christmas tree. It was not ike the ones we see today. Sometimes it was just a young Forida pine tree." Bette Zubrod Hooway, Daughter of Bob Zubrod "Our mother, Dot Kahre Zubrod, heped dad pay Santa by driving him around on Christmas Eve. Peope sometimes thought they saw her taking to hersef in the car, but she was reay taking to dad who was aying down in the back seat. He didn't want anyone seeing him. Mother kept his suit, wig and beard in good shape without etting us see it, because we sti beieved in Santa." Norman Bie, who grew up in the area "Shorty after Word War II, when I was about 14 years od, the Christmas ceebration was at Brandon's Paviion. There was a stage set up under the od 'Watch Tower'. Thurman Moody, who owned Moody's Drug Store, now JD's Restaurant, was the town's honorary Mayor and payed the Master of Ceremonies. They said Santa woud arrive by boat. Dick Kenyon had a arge 34 footer, and Bob Zubrod, dressed as Santa, and Dick woud go down the Intracoasta, to about where The Pub is today and wait. When they got a signa, normay a fare, they woud drive up to the od IRB bridge. There was quite a crowd there, about 100 to 150 peope. Many of them were seasona peope here from the north." Betty (Meares) Henry "My brother Jim had a son, Mike, who was about 4 or 5. They ived on the mainand near one of the od springs off Hamin Road. Litte Mike was starting to not beieve in Santa Caus. Jim arranged for Bob Zubrod to make an appearance at their door dressed as Santa. Mike suddeny started beieving again." Lia (Peterson) Grant "I remember Bob Zubrod as Santa Caus. I think the first time I saw him, I was about 8 years od. He came to my schoo, Anona Eementary. The whoe schoo had gathered in the auditorium. There was a big Christmas tree at the front of the room. The back door opened and a big Ho Ho Ho coud be heard, before he came waking in carrying a big sack of toys."

4 Did You Know... FLYING FISH In October, 40 peope participated in a Muet Toss hed at the Red Lion. A fundraiser for the Beach Food Pantry, the event coected seven arge boxes of food and nonperishabe items, pus $300. First Pace Winners were Gregory Osburg and Chris Dawson. Prizes were donated by oca businesses. Harvey Briat, Director of the Food Pantry, woud ike to thank everyone invoved. MARKET IN THE PARK RETURNS Now next door at Heritage Viage, it opens November 7th, and continues every Saturday through May, from 9am-2pm. There wi be vendors, offering everything from cheese, nuts, and dried spices to herba teas, coffee beans and bread. They have a wide variety of non-food items, too, such as wood crafts, magnetic jewery and organic T-shirts. CITY INSPECTOR RETIRES John Morteite, the city's buiding code inspector, retired in October. He was with the city for four years. Mayor R.B. Johnson, and the entire commission expressed their gratitude to John for his years of service, knowedge and 'good peope skis'. The city wi now consider severa options for his repacement. FOOD DRIVE DURING THE HOLIDAY STREET PARADE Again this year, the Indian Rocks Vounteer Firemen s Assoc. wi coect food during the December 6th street parade. Put canned goods, pet food or toietries out by the street and they wi have a unit at the end of the parade picking it up. Coections wi be divided between Cavary Episcopa Church s Beach Community Food Pantry and the Lifeine Food Pantry at St. Jerome s Cathoic Church s. SIGN OF TOUGH TIMES The Barrier Isand Gazette, a oca community newspaper normay found in your driveway, ceased pubishing. HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING is December 4th. This city sponsored event is fun for the whoe famiy. Come out and see the new Christmas Tree donated by the Indian Rocks Beach Homeowners Association. CITY ELECTIONS If you run for City Commissioner or Mayor you must pre-quaify and register January 4-8. Candidate packets wi be avaiabe in December, for the March 9th eection. If you have questions regarding the eection, ca Deanne O'Reiy, City Cerk at Mayor R. B. Johnson, and Commissioners Danie Torres and Cookie Kennedy s terms are expiring. LAST SIGN STANDING A the non-conforming signs in IRB have been removed or owered, except the one in front of Cuso s Cantina. Owner Mark Mancuso is suing the city to keep his sign the way it is. He says it woud cost him $20- $25,000 for a new one. He has a court date December 10th.

5 THE ANNUAL TASTE OF IRB is November 7th. This year s event, presented by the IRB Homeowners Assoc. and the City of IRB, is sponsored by Century21 Beggins. Over 20 restaurants wi be participating again this year. Beer sponsored by Crabby Bi's, Wine, donated by 688 Fine Wine and Spirits, pus soft drinks and water donated by Pumee Reaty wi be for sae. Proceeds from the soft drink & water saes wi benefit the Food Pantry. The band this year is Espree dekor. Bring your chairs and bankets and spend a fun fied evening with great food & dancing under the stars. BEVERLY GRANGER PASSES AWAY Bevery Granger, one of the owners of IRB s Granger House, on Guf Bvd., passed away in September. She and her husband Joe Mazza, were cose friends and business partners with oca ceebrity Dick Schaa. Together they managed the Granger House. Bevery had fought ovarian cancer for the past nine years. MORE LIBRARIES The City has appied for State Aide for Libraries through the State of Forida. It is a new program that wi aow IRB residents to use other city ibraries. Mary Brown, of the Pineas County Library Board, says she thinks our appication meets state criteria. The city coud receive about $2,000 annuay. It wi take some time though before it is approved. BONNER PARK Due to ack of funds, the City of Largo considered cosing some parks, incuding Bonner Park, which is across the Intracoasta Waterway from IRB. In the fina meetings, the Largo Commissioners eected to fund the park and keep it open. Bonner Park is ocated at the north end of 143rd Street, just west of Indian Rocks Road. The annua Anona Eementary Reunion is hed there. HOA POKER RUN A great time was had by the amost 250 peope that participated in this year s run. They visited the ten participating IRB bars and finished the evening with a big party at Crabby Bi s Loading Dock. FALL BALL CONTINUES West Pineas Litte League invites everyone to join them at Campaong Fied to watch our kids pay ba. Games are every night, 6 to 8:30pm, and Saturday 9am to 3pm. Ages range from T-Ba s 5 and 6 year ods, to the Major s 11 and 12 year ods. Pease come by, have a hotdog and enjoy a ba game. They are a vounteer eague and are aways ooking for donations, sponsorships, and vounteers. Ca Mike Keey COTI HAS A NEW PRINCIPAL. Rita Petrino, the principa of COTI Schoo eft in September to go to another schoo in St Petersburg. Brian Hirsh is the new principa. ASSISTANT FIRE CHIEF RETIRES In October, Richard Waker retired from the oca Pineas Suncoast Fire & Rescue. He is a ong-time resident. IRB wi miss his expertise and his chii at The Taste of IRB. Dave Martin has assumed Rick's duties at the PSFD. ONLINE: Read this issue (as we as others) onine at

6 COUNTYWIDE RECYCLING PROGRAM The Pineas County recycing program, for singe-famiy residences ony wi provide weeky automated coection to residents of cities that eect to participate. Indian Rocks Beach has eected to participate. Coected items wi incude fiber (paper, magazines, newspaper, etc) and containers (auminum, stee, pastic, gass). Pending County Commission approva, the program is schedued to begin in May or June, The annua operating costs are anticipated to be from $9 to $12 miion, which incudes reimbursement to cities maintaining their own recycing programs. The program wi be supported by soid waste enterprise funds, not property taxes, and wi not require charging citizens any additiona fees. HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS IN THE AREA November 25 through New Year is Trees and Traditions at Heritage Viage. They wi aso decorate the houses. Friday Dec. 4th, at 7pm is the IRB Hoiday Tree Lighting in the park across from USA Grocers. Saturday, December 5 11am-3pm is a Hoiday Open House at Heritage Viage. Enjoy hoiday music and chidren's activities, tour their decorated homes and gaeries, and refreshments in the Greenwood House Saturday, Dec. 5th is the Post Office's annua Toys for Tots drive. Your mai carrier wi be coecting the toys. Leave a new, unwrapped toy by your maibox that day for your mai carrier to pick up, or you can drop one by your oca post office by Monday, the 7th. Saturday, Dec 5th is the Annua Christmas Festiva On The Ises at Church of the Ises from 9am-2pm. There wi be unch and one of a kind Christmas Crafts, She and Wreath Creations, Gift Baskets, Jewery, Books, Raffes, Entertainment, and more Sunday Dec. 6th is the annua Hoiday Street Parade. The parade eaves the Chic-A-Si Park area at 1 pm. Look for them to come by your house sometime that afternoon. The vounteer firemen wi be coecting food donations during the parade. The parade wi be foowed by the Santa Chidren's Party in the City Auditorium. If you woud ike to donate food, pease bring your tray of finger sandwiches, cookies, cupcakes, etc. to the city auditorium, at noon on Sunday. Thursday December 10th, is the IRB Homeowners Association's Hoiday Socia and annua Toy Drive at Impressive Designs from 6-8 pm. Pease bring a new, un-wrapped toy for the toy drive, and join them for some Hoiday Cheer. There wi be compimentary appetizers, with beer and wine for sae. Pan to do a itte hoiday shopping whie you are there. Saturday Dec. 19th, is the 23rd Annua IRB Hoiday Lighted Boat parade. The boats ine up around 6:30 at the Hoiday Inn Harborside and at 7pm proceed north. If you don't ive on the water, the Hoiday Inn deck is a great pace to view it. The Captain's meeting wi be hed at Jimmy Guana's on December 17th. Instead of the evening of the parade, the Awards Party is being moved to Monday, December 21st. The Homeowners Assoc. has donated $1500 to make sure we have a great parade this year. If you woud ike to participate in the parade, now is the time to register. Contact Randy Schwab, at the City , or RSchwab@irbcity.com. BIG-C VOTES THUMBS DOWN ON OFFSHORE DRILLING by Commissioner Terry Hamiton Woin The Barrier Isand Government Counci (BIG-C) voted a resounding "NO" on the question of offshore driing at the 3-mie imit aong Forida's west coast. IRB's BIG-C deegate, Commissioner Terry Hamiton Woin, joined her coeagues in the near-unanimous vote. Beeair Beach abstained pending a upcoming commission meeting. Notwithstanding the oss of our pristine beaches, which account for our number one industry - tourism, we aso face the oss of marine ife. Just one spi and ife on the Guf Beaches coud change forever. The potentia damage to our economy and our quaity of ife is far too great. This is a risk we can i afford to take. The August 21st spi off Austraia's northwest coast is sti uncontained. The Jack-Up rig that faied is the same rig proposed for offshore Forida. It is spiing 400 barres a day

7 SHOULD I UPGRADE TO WINDOWS 7? by Bruce Sobut You may have heard Microsoft reeased a new version of Windows on October 22. Due to the initia probems with Vista, you may be wondering if you shoud purchase or upgrade to Windows 7. Most reports and our experience with the pre-reease version indicate the new operating system is faster and more stabe than either Vista or XP. If you are buying a new computer it wi most ikey aready have Windows 7 instaed, making the decision easy or it wi have Vista instaed with a free upgrade to Windows 7. Whie there is no easy answer to upgrading, here are a few considerations. It is usuay a good idea to wait and see if any major probems appear after a major software reease. If the reease doesn t appear to have any probems, upgrading your computer from Vista to Windows 7 shoud be reativey painess. Upgrading from XP to Windows 7 is a different story. There is no direct upgrade from XP to Windows 7. You either have to upgrade to Vista first, aowing you to keep your currenty instaed programs, or reformat your hard drive, insta Windows 7, and then reinsta a of your existing software. Either way, you first need to make sure that your computer has the necessary hardware to run Windows 7. Microsoft has reeased an Upgrade Advisor to test your computer for use with Windows 7. It can be downoaded at microsoft.com/windows/ windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx. Bruce Sobut has over 30 years computer consuting experience and has been an IRB resident for over 17 years, and is a member of the Rotary Cub of Indian Rocks Beach. If he can t hep, there is no charge! Inhome and business service is avaiabe. Guf Coast Computer Soutions is ocated at (od) Wasingham Rd., Largo, FL. Ca to schedue an appointment or stop by between 10 am and 4 pm. IRB BOAT CLUB NEWS New Meeting Location: The monthy meetings are now being hed at Jimmy Guana's. They are sti the third Thursday of the month. The next two meetings are Nov 19 and Dec 17 at 6pm. The now annua "End of Summer Party" was hed on Party Isand, at the north end of IRB, on Saturday, September 19th. We had approximatey 75 peope and about 20 boats. Boat members enjoyed a potuck dinner, bonfire and ive music. Once again, members of the Boat Cub came together to cean up the isands in the intracoasta, near IRB. They aso ceaned up the shoreine south of the Hoiday Inn aong the Narrows. They picked that date because the tide was ow and they coud better access the isands. Contact Bob Griffin at or emai him at BoatCub@IRBhome.com for more information. See pictures and get more info at IRBhome.com

8 Vincent Leverientz of Windrush Bvd., at a recent garage sae. HOW TO HAVE A GOOD GARAGE SALE The annua IRB Fa Garage Sae wi be ater this month, Saturday and Sunday, November Since the downturn in the economy, istings of used items on Craig's List and Facebook Marketpace have triped. If you haven't ceared out your junk yet, you may want to consider seing your items in a garage sae. Here are some hints to make it successfu. GETTING READY - Cean out your cosets and ook under the beds the week before your sae. You wi be surprised how much stuff you have that you don't need or want. Things that se we are toos, chidren's items and housewares. Cothing and persona items se sower. Make sure everything is cean and works. Peope don t want to buy stained or broken items. PRICING - Sentimenta vaue doesn t matter to buyers. They are ooking for good deas. Visit to a neighbor s sae and see what they are seing, and how much they are asking. A rue of thumb is to charge 20-30% ess than you paid for it. But, take into account how od the items is and its condition. What woud you pay for it? Aways eave a itte room for negotiations. Mark the prices ceary on each item, and make sure the sizes of cothing is ceary marked. ADVERTISE - The good thing about iving in Indian Rocks Beach, and participating in the Fa Sae, is you do not have to advertise. The city runs ads for you, and oca newspapers cover it as news. But, if you ive on a ess traveed street, you shoud put a sign, announcing the sae, at the end of your street. Te your friends, famiy and coworkers. They may even come and hep. Word of mouth is free and can reay work. Anything you can do to attract attention to your sae can t hurt. Vincent, in the above photo, attracted buyers that day. SET UP - You can not just throw stuff on a tabe and expect to make money. Things shoud be organized by category. Women's things shoud be separate from men's things, toos, kitchen goods, furniture, etc. By putting simiar items together, you may se more to each person. Cothing is best dispayed on hangars. START EARLY - If you don t start unti 8am, you have aready missed the most active shoppers. It is recommend to have your tabes out by sunrise. That's right, sunrise! If you've done this before, you know the eary risers are usuay buyers. PLAN B - If you do not se everything on Saturday, there is aways Sunday. But, expect ess peope on Sunday. Try marking everything down by noon. Most of the crowds wi be gone by 1pm. If you have things eft over, you can try your hand at ebay, or donate it Goodwi. There is a Goodwi traier in front of Pubix on Indian Rocks Rd.

9 INDIAN ROCKS HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION NEWS 2009 HAPPY HOURS Homeowners Happy Hours continue at the foowing restaurants: Nov: JD s Dec: Impressive Designs These FREE Happy Hours are 6-7:30 pm the second Thursday of the month. Our 2010 schedue wi be out soon! Visit IRBhome.com for info. Heo and wecome to fa of This year has fown by faster and hotter than usua. I woud ike to thank the Executive Board and Board Members of the Homeowners Association, a the vounteers and everyone that attended our 2009 events. The Homeowners Association has had a great year with our monthy Happy Hours, the Guppy s Gufside Gaop, The Biggest Beach Party Ever, the Poker Run, Easter Egg Hunt, Movies in the Park and on the Beach, two Gof Tournaments, Isand Parties and Coasta Ceanups with our Boat Cub, Bowing Night, and the Taste of IRB. This year, with the monies we raised, we donated $250 to the Vounteer Fireman's Association of PSFR, $1,500 to the City for the IRB Hoiday Lighted Boat Parade, bought the new city Christmas tree, contributed $500 to the new banner brackets, sponsored a Litte League team, donated money to the Food Pantry, and to encourage everyone to ride their bikes to our oca businesses, we are panning to buy Bicyce Racks for Guf Bvd. businesses. I woud ike to thank a the oca businesses that supported us in the past year. Without their sponsorships and donations we woud not be abe to have a these great events that hep to unite our community. This year saw the beginning of our new Home of Exceence Award, sponsored by Pumee Reaty. Seven IRB residents vounteered to be on the committee to choose a home that recognizes the hard work of homeowners in maintaining and improving their property. The first winner of the award, 514 Janice Pace is owned by "Fash" Gordon Wiiamson & Jo Hammond. We are taking nominations now for the fourth quarter award to be awarded in December. We have waived our membership fees, and ask you to instead spend the twenty doars in our oca businesses. They need your support just as much as the HOA need theirs. Athough everyone is considered a member, pease fi out a membership so we can keep you updated on our events. With a the events we do every year, we can aways use more hep. We promise not to abuse your time. In cosing, I woud ike to thank Becky Griffin for a she does to keep me, and the Association, run smoothy. Without her, I woud not receive neary as much praise as I do, about how everything the HOA does is so great. I aso want to thank my fantastic and ovey wife Jane, for aowing me to donate so much of my time to the Association. Without these two adies, I woud not be such a successfu President of the IRB Homeowners Association. See you at the Taste of IRB, Saturday, Nov. 7th in Chic-A-Si Park, and at our ast two Happy Hours of the year, JDs in November, and our December Toy Drive hed inside Impressive Designs on the SE corner of Chic-A-Si Park. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Phi Wrobe, President IRB Homeowners Assoc. New Location!

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11 THE NEW COUNTY BUDGET: WHAT DO WE LOOK LIKE NOW? By Karen Wiiams See, Vice Chairman, Pineas County Board of County Commissioners Now that the county has begun its new fisca year, which started Oct. 1, the big question is, "What does county government ook ike now?" The simpe answer is, "smaer." The budget decreased $342 miion or 17 percent. Under the Board of County Commissioners, a tota of 738 fu-time positions were eiminated. The 2,041 empoyees under the Board of County Commissioners is the owest tota of empoyees since These individuas mowed the grass in the parks, processed the permits in the buiding department and responded to our cas about barking dogs. We thank each and every one for their dedication, and we can't pretend to be the same without them. The budget reductions aso incuded programs that our residents had requested and which I expect wi be missed. The road paving program was eiminated, our two County Connection Centers were cosed, and buiding inspections, deveopment review and zoning departments were reduced. Some fees increased. Hours and programming at our preserves and at Heritage Viage were decreased. A of our departments have experienced substantia reductions. There aso was a decrease in the saes tax coected from the Penny for Pineas, which means there wi ess capita improvement projects than originay panned. The County Commission had no choice when it came to making cuts. Like each of you, we were affected by the downturn in the economy, a dramatic decrease in property vaues, and egisative decisions. We coud have raised the property tax rate to coect the same amount that we did ast year, but our citizens are aready suffering from the bad economy. So, we resized - some woud say "right-sized" - as we redefine the mix of services and programs that the county government provides. The process is not compete. We are ooking at a smaer government as we face the future. Tax caps, more egisation and a continuation of economic trends mean that we wi not see robust growth in our budget in the foreseeabe future. We wi have to continue to provide you with a smaer basket of services, which means that we must be very cear about the priorities we set and be sure to isten to your input. In the next coupe of months we wi work on redefining our strategic pan, reviewing the objectives of the past, aying down the foundation of our present goas, and fitting our vision into economic reaities. We must do this on an ongoing basis. Our staff wi begin January by starting our next budget. Since this continues to be a vita time in the evoution of our government, I encourage a of you to continue to provide input. I aso ask you for a bit of patience with us as we readjust to our new size and work toward finding the baance that aows us to serve you with the finest quaity of county services. When someone asks that question, "What does county government ook ike now?" we want to answer, "Smaer, but as good as ever."

12 TURTLE PATROL by Suzanne Thayer This year I vounteered at the Cearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA) as a member of their Turte Patro. The job of a turte vounteer is to babysit the caged nests from 9pm unti 1am each evening. This is when most oggerhead turte nests hatch. About fifty days after a nest is aid, a pastic mesh cage is paced over the eggs. This is not to keep the nest safe from predators as most peope think, but to keep the hatchings in the cage unti they can safey be gotten to the water. The hatchings made me reaize the importance of controing ights on streets and buidings. A of the ights aong the beach confuse the hatching turtes, and eft aone, many woud not make it to the water. We discovered that noise deays the hatching, so we need to make sure the area is dark and quiet. During hatching, the hoe graduay opens to about the size of a softba and the hatchings craw out ike ants, fiing the cage. At the first sign of a hatching, the vounteer notifies the CMA supervisor on duty. The supervisor counts the turtes, pacing them in a bucket, and documents a the reevant conditions. Meanwhie the vounteers dig a shaow trench six to eight feet ong eading to the waterine. The turtes are reeased in the trench so they can craw into the water by themseves. The hepers and vounteers bock the ight and watch that the hatchings do not swim back to shore. Sometimes we are out there unti 3 am. Adut femae turtes return to the same area where they were born to ay their eggs. This aows the hatchings to imprint on the beach where they were born. This season I spent over forty nights on the beach and was fortunate to participate in eight hatchings, ranging from turtes per nest. In the wid, ony one in a thousand hatchings survives to aduthood, so hopefuy getting them started in the right direction improves their odds. Just sitting on the beach under the stars, istening to the waves and heping nature was a great experience. I made some new friends, who are vounteers at CMA and neighbors, and am ooking forward to next year's nesting season. Thanks, to my husband, John, who sat with me most of the nights. John and Suzanne ive on 12 Ave. in IRB. CALVARY EPISCOPAL CHURCH NEWS Community Saiing Program - The fa program, with 32 kids, meets once a month. The summer program is amost fu, so register now. We aso offer a Youth Kayak Program, at no charge. Thank you to the Pineas Suncoast Fire and Rescue squads who have vounteered their time to supervise these programs. THANKSGIVING SERVICE Nov. 25, 7 pm & Nov. 26, 10 am CHRISTMAS SERVICE December 24, 5 pm kids & famiies, 7 pm, Eucharist with Christmas Hymns, 9pm, Soemn Eucharist - Christmas Day 10 am We are gratefu to a the oca residents who are supporting the Beach Community Food Pantry, ocated here at our church. Harvey Briat is doing a fine job. We wish you a peace and goodwi during the hoidays, Father Bob, Cavary Episcopa Church,

13 ANYONE CAN WAX A CAR...RIGHT? by Mike Poock Yes, anyone can. But not just anyone shoud, especiay if you appreciate the beauty of your car s finish. I recommend staying away from amateur detaiers and automatic car washes. They can do more harm than good. From dirty, tattered towes and poor quaity products, to pressure washers and incorrect techniques, there are an infinite number of ways to damage your car's deicate cearcoat. The most common cosmetic probem is swir marks, which are scratches in the paint s finish. There are two types of swir marks; spider webs, caused by careess washing, and buffer swirs, or hoograms, caused by improper use of a rotary buffer. On a sunny day, ook for the refection of the sun in your cars paint. If you see tiny scratches in a circuar, cobweb ike pattern, you have swirs. Whie you may not have noticed them before, these micro scratches scatter ight in different directions and detract from the overa shine, and vaue of your car. Fortunatey, in most cases, swirs can be removed by a professiona detaier. The resut is a rich, dazzing show-car shine adding vaue and protection to your car. Mike Poock, IRB resident for eight years, and has been detaiing cars and boats, here since He offers compete reconditioning of negected vehices as we as affordabe maintenance pans and he comes to you! Ca to schedue an appointment, or visit to see a ist of services. LIBRARY NEWS The new chidren s activity group is now in operation! The first meeting, hed October 8th, was very successfu. A number of chidren attended and enjoyed a participatory reading of "The Very Hungry Caterpiar," compete with props reating to the story, and one of the chidren in fu costume. The reading featured innovative reading techniques brought to the group by Committee member Bevery Sexton, a pre-k teacher. The Chidren s Activity Group Committee members are Vaerie Torres, Michee Benjamin, Sue Lawrence, Bevery Sexton, Katrin Andrew and Emiy Kinmonth, our ten year od vounteer. The next event is a Twiight night for tweens and teens to meet at the ibrary and discuss the Twiight books. Costumes are encouraged. The date for this event wi be announced soon. Contact the ibrary for information or ca Jean Scott Future chidren s group activities incude story-hours for the younger chidren, and sessions focused on books seected for reading and discussion for the oder ones. November 16, the ibrary wi hod an open house. It wi be in observation of the ibrary s 35th anniversary. Gene Wimmer, ibrary vounteer for 30 years, wi be honored.

14 TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A VACATION RENTAL IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD Many peope are choosing to stay cose to home these days for the recenty popuar "Staycation." Due to the economic conditions, vacation renta rates have dropped. Locas are inviting famiy and friends to join them aong the guf coast and why not? A vacation renta offers the traveer an opportunity to enjoy our famous beaches, and makes it affordabe. Vacation rentas are individuay-owned condominiums and homes. They have fuy equipped kitchens, therefore the guests can save money by eating in. They offer more room than a traditiona hote room for aowing arger groups to stay in one pace. The amenities are pentifu and the atmosphere is reaxed. If you woud ike to get information about how you can enjoy a Three Pams Vacation Renta, ca or visit SANTA'S HELPERS ASSIST LOCAL GROUPS By Marsha Eiss Pineas Suncoast Fire & Rescue The hoidays wi very soon be upon us, and with that comes the reaity that not everyone can afford to "ight up the eyes of a chid." With that in mind, the members of Pineas Suncoast Fire & Rescue, Indian Rocks Vounteer Firemen's Association, and Pineas Suncoast Community Emergency Response Team have made it part of their mission to coect and distribute toys for area kids through generous donations from the community, toy drives at Pubix Supermarket, and severa oca estabishments. Over the past eight years, the Department has been abe to assist severa area famiies, as we as The Greater Ridgecrest Area Youth Deveopment Initiative, Suncoast Center for Community Menta Heath and the Pineas County Sheriff's Office. According to Tom Leyman, Chairperson of the Pubix toy drive, and member of the Indian Rocks Vounteers, it started as a car show with a toy for admission. "John Barber, the Pubix manager, was aways heping us out with suppies for the Fire Department rehab so when he woud have specia events, he woud ask us to bring the fire trucks to hep promote them," Leyman said. The toy drive has grown, and in 2009 it wi be hed at the Pubix Superstore at the corner of Vonn and Wasingham Roads. "We coud never have imagined it woud become this successfu," Leyman stated. "With the tightening of budgets of non-profit organizations, it has become more difficut for these agencies to provide for as many famiies as they woud ike to; so they are very gratefu for any assistance they can get, and we are gad to hep out," added Leyman. The toys are brought to Pineas Suncoast Fire Station 27, sorted by the staff and vounteers, and then the agency representatives are caed to come and pick up the toys. "It's very rewarding to see the smies on the faces of the foks from the agencies," Leyman stated. It has aways been said that it is better to give than to receive and now more than ever you can "ight up the eyes of a chid" for the hoidays by either dropping an unwrapped toy at Station 27 or by going to the toy drive on the 19th of December 9 am - 4 pm. HISTORICAL MUSEUM NEWS Patti Muneio, President of the Historica Society, has resigned from the board. Patty served many years on the Board and everyone woud ike to thank her for a her service to the Historica Society. Wayne Ayers, Vice- President, wi assume the roe of President unti new eections are hed. The Fa Luncheon had a fantastic turnout with guest speaker Mac Perry. The museum is working with the city to buid an addition, incuding restrooms on the museum site. The restrooms are to be used for both the museum and events in Chic-A-Si Park. If you have od photos or items reating to IRB's past, pease donate them to the museum. With the new addition they wi be abe to dispay more things. The Museum needs vounteers to man to museum Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10am-2pm. You do not have to know much history to be a vounteer. Ca the museum , or Wayne Ayers The Board of Directors meets the first Thursday each month at 7pm in the Museum. The pubic is invited.

15 ROTARY NEWS WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO? It's a fair question. Every time you are asked to purchase a Rotary Drawing ticket, or perhaps a brat and a beer from Oktoberfest, or a pate of pancakes and sausage, or sponsor a sient auction item, IRB Rotary invites you to invest your hard earned money with our cub. But what happens to your investment? Over the ast year, in aphabetica order, the foowing groups and individuas were the recipients of your generosity: American Cancer Society Anona Eementary Art and Music Department Anona First Grade Project Beach Art Center Chak Wak Bardmoor Specia Program Schoars Bauder Eementary Art and Music Department CASA of St Petersburg Cavanaugh Famiy Guf Beaches Food Pantry Cearwater Savation Army Rotary Third Grade Dictionary Program (Bardmoor, Bauder, Ridgecrest, Oakhurst and Anona Eementary Schoos) Gufcoast Soccer Program Rotary Internationa sponsored Haitian Orphan Reief IRB Rotary sponsored Hoiday Needy Famiy Program (providing Christmas gifts and hoiday meas to financiay chaenged oca famiies) PSFR/IRB Fire Department IRB Litte League Ba Fied renovation Leukemia Society Oakhurst Art and Music Department Rotary Foundation contribution Pineas Habitat for Humanity Ridgecrest Art and Music Department Rotary Youth Exchange Program St Petersburg Foundation Project In past few years we have invested in Forida and Louisiana hurricane reief, Rotary's Sheterbox Program, Indonesian tsunami reief, Nigerian Water We Projects, the Morningstar Fisherman Project and other numerous reief and humanitarian projects. We take very seriousy, the responsibiity of investing your contributions for maximum good, and sincerey vaue the trust you pace in us. We appreciate your past support and encourage your continued participation in a our fundraisers. S**** B*** GRAND PRIZE DRAWING CHANGES VENUE! Once again, IRB Rotary wi host the Grand Prize Drawing for footba's biggest prize---2 tickets to the 2010 S**** B*** (February 7, 2010 in Miami), 4 nights odging and $1000 spending money. The Rotary's Grand Prize Drawing party is December 6th, 2:30-5:30 pm. Pease note it has moved to Jimmy Guana's Restaurant and Deck, at the Hoiday Inn. Join us for Buccaneer footba, a ight appetizer buffet, drink specias and, someone's gonna win!! See our encosed fyer for more information on how to purchase chances for this great opportunity. David Kine, Past President, IRB Rotary Cub , Kine22@tampabay.rr.com

16 Business Briefs... VEGGIE STAND OPENING There is a new pace to buy fresh vegetabes nearby. Market Pace Produce is opening at Wasingham, next door to the CVS store in eary November. NEW DELI The Jerusaem Dei wi be opening in eary November at 311 Guf Bvd. It wi feature a pizza paror, Jewish cuisine, as we as organic food. COOKIES BY DESIGN Whie they did cose their Wasingham ocation, they did not go out of business. They are sti servicing the Largo / IRB area. Ca Karen to get your cookies designed and deivered, PUTT PUTT AT THE HOLIDAY INN The Hoiday Inn Harborside just instaed a new miniature gof course inside, on the Hoiday Inn's main wooden concourse. EVENT SPACE AVAILABLE Impressive Designs has space avaiabe to rent for parties, fundraising, and specia events, during the evening hours and on Sundays. They have a fu sound system. It is a great pace for sma and medium sized groups to meet. Ca Bevery Maey at for more information. TAPAS GARDEN AND WINE BAR. Randy Hu, in conjunction with Matt Loder, of Crabby Bis, is opening a new restaurant, on the site of the former La Cachette, at 351 Guf Bvd. Randy is the former chef at My Pace and Backstone's. They wi be open for dinner ony, with a spanish tapas menu and a arge seection of wine. Dine inside or out in the garden. They shoud be open by Nov. 1st. Visit their Taste of IRB booth DOGGIE DINING The IRB City Commission approved the state ordinance aowing dogs to join their owners at restaurants with outdoor dining areas. Now each restaurant must appy, pay a fee and get a permit. Soon you shoud be abe to dine with your dog at outdoor paces ike Crabby Bis, Coaster s and the Red Lion. IRB TABLE TOP Chris Smith, an empoyee at the Red Lion, has been coecting botte caps, ots of them. What did he do with them? He made a tabe featuring our city. Drop by and donate another beer cap LA CACHETTE de a PLAGE Owners Martin and his wife Bueha Jackson, moved their restaurant to Cearwater and reopened at 635 Ceveand Street. They have the same phone number, CLOSED / OUT OF BUSINESS: BISCAYNE FRAMING, Barcay Square - moved to Beeair Buffs MARLIN TIME SPORTS BAR, inside Brewmasters SASSY'S CLUB, across the bridge in Largo CRYSTAL CONNECTIONS 311 Guf Bvd

17 THE BEACH ART CENTER has a new Executive Director, David Shankweier's. He spent nineteen years at the Dunedin Fine Art Center "wearing a the hats" incuding exhibit curator, exhibit preparator, assistant director, marketing and P.R. director, grant writer and fundraiser. He aso was the Director of the Tampa Bay Automobie Museum and Director of the Greenvie Museum of Art in Greenvie North Caroina. He is a painter and received a Bacheor of Art in Engish Literature with a Minor in Visua Art from Georgia State. STONE CRABS Where do stone crabs come from? Pubix? Fish Markets? No, they come from the Guf of Mexico, and Indian Rocks Beach fishing boats based at the Hoiday Inn catch them. Traps went in the water on October 5th, and are pued daiy beginning October 15th. Many of the IRB restaurants buy their stone crabs directy from our oca fishermen. EXPANDING AGAIN We are pubishing another version of our Neighborhood Newsetter. This one is for the Cearwater Beach area, which incudes Sand Key and Isand Estates. If you woud ike to advertise, ca us now. If you want to read it, you wi be abe to see it at BeachNewsetters.com. The first issue is December 1st. SEMINOLE HIGH WARHAWK MARCHING BAND begins their march to the 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade at the City of Seminoe Hoiday Night Parade Sunday, November 22. The Warhawk's were seected to be one of 10 bands in the 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day. The Booster's wi be hosting many fundraising events in the coming months. If you are interested in donating or sponsoring the Band, contact Tom Lewis or tewis55@tampabay.rr.com. POLISHING THE OLD BROWN SHOES Harbor Drive resident, R. Victor H. Wood, Jr., announces the reease of Poishing The Od Brown Shoes. Biographica in nature, Brown Shoes recounts the story of Wood's eary chidhood growing up in rura Pennsyvania, two decades of miitary service, a 30-year career in commercia rea estate, and his retirement years in Indian Rocks Beach. The former CEO of Burger King Canada, Wood aso oversaw rea estate acquisition and management for companies such as the McDonad's Corp., where he was the company's first director of internationa rea estate handing ocations in Germany, France, Japan, etc. A corporate and persona journey of surviva in the backwoods and in the boardroom, Poishing The Od Brown Shoes is timey in view of so many strugging under current economic conditions. The book stresses the importance of deveoping and executing a pan, being prepared, anticipating setbacks, adapting to change, seeking new chaenges and deveoping an iron wi-not just to survive-but to thrive in the toughest of circumstances. The book wi be avaiabe on Amazon.com in December.

18 ACTION 2000 NEWS OKTOBERFEST ON THE BEACH A GRAND EVENT Since 1999, Oktoberfest has grown to be a widey attended event, enjoyed by thousands each year. There was something for everyone, great variety of foods, beverages, music, Sient Auction, dancing, vendors and a specia venue for chidren. Action 2000, The City of IRB, and The IRB Rotary worked diigenty to pan, promote and vounteer many hours making sure the event was we staffed and attended. Our sincere thanks to HomeBanc our Major Sponsor, those donating to our Sient Auction, to a the sponsors, vendors, and especiay to a the dedicated vounteers that make this event possibe-thank YOU! NEW AND IMPROVED LOOK ON GULF BLVD. New Signage aong Guf Bvd gives it a refreshing, new and improved ook. IRB Action 2000 has provided financia assistance, to many of the businesses dispaying new signs, under a program that heps quaifying businesses. The most recent are Crabby Bi's, Cay Pointe, and Wabi Sabi. BANNERS DISPLAYED WITH THE NEW BRACKET SYSTEM The new brackets have been mounted on Guf Bvd. Purchased by IRB Action 2000 in conjunction with IRB Rotary, The Historic Society of IRB and the IRB Homeowners Association, they aow our civic groups to dispay event banners. The first banners, proudy hoisted, were for Oktoberfest On The Beach. NEXT EVENT IS OUR ANNUAL VALENTINE DANCE! Pans are underway and this year's dance is sure to be the best ever. It is aways a SELL OUT- so RESERVE your tickets as soon as possibe. The Date: February 13, 2010, 7:00PM. IRB City Auditorium. You can visit our website to reserve your tickets, or ca Diane Fagg at or e-mai: faggmeyer@yahoo.com. MANY HAVE ASKED US - WHAT IS ACTION 2000? We are a non profit organization made up of vounteers with a mission to improve the ook and appearance of Guf Bvd. A monies raised are used for beautification or maintenance programs to enhance the ook of Guf Bvd for everyone. By doing these improvements, we hope to add to the quaity of ife for a who ive, work, or have a business in this great city, and aso hep attract those ooking for a great pace to ca home. Join us, we are excited about getting new members and or vounteers, and a are wecome! For information, visit our new Website irbaction2000.com. Meetings are the Second Monday each month, in the Beach Arts Center at 6:30pm. Eric Meyer, President of Action 2000, findericmeyer@tampabay.rr.com.

19 SWINE FLU - H1N1 by Rep. Jim Frishe, District 54 I imagine, that by this time, everyone has been made aware of the concerns regarding the possibe epidemic of Swine Fu. As in the case of a fu, there are precautionary steps each individua can take to hep ward off catching H1N1. SAFETY PRECAUTIONS When you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose. Use a tissue and when finished, discard the tissue. No tissue avaiabe - use your hand or arm. When finished, wash your hands thoroughy. Cean your hands often. When avaiabe, wash your hands with soap and warm water. Rub your hands vigorousy together and scrub a surfaces. Wash for approximatey 15 to 20 seconds. Try to avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; viruses are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated, and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth. Cean surfaces of equipment you use often such as keyboards, teephones and door handes. Keep your desk surfaces cean. Keep sanitizing coths on hand for use. SYMPTOMS The key indicator of probabe fu is FEVER. Other symptoms woud incude cough, shortness of breath, respiratory distress, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, headache, extreme tiredness, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and musce aches. Not a of these symptoms need be present to have the fu. IF INFECTED Check with your heathcare provider for specia care needed. Get penty of rest as seeping heps rebuid our ces and process toxins out of the system. Drink cear fuids (such as water, broth, sports drinks, eectroyte beverages for infants) to keep from becoming dehydrated. AVOID cose contact with others. SOME GOOD NEWS H1N1 and seasona fu viruses have not mutated so existing vaccines wi be effective. If you are in an at-risk category, tak to your doctor. Let's a work together and hep each other by STAYING HEALTHY this fa. ON GOING ACTIVITIES AT IRB S LIBRARY CHILDREN'S STORY TELLING TIME for preschooers, every Monday, 4pm DAYTIME BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP Meets the second Tuesday of the month, 2pm NIGHT BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP Meets the third Wednesday of the month, 7pm WEDNESDAY'S WORD Poetry Reading, meets every fourth Wednesday, 6:30pm IRB BOOK CLUB meets once a month to read and discuss books. The dates vary. Ca the Library for info. Ca the Library at for more information on any of these activities.

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